We have so many influences in our lives--which should we worship?  Some of our influences come from our upbringing.  We remember Uncle So-and-So's good nature and sense of humor, and it helps to keep a spring in our step, and a smile on our heart. Perhaps we had an elder in the family who was wise with money, investing, giving, and living...and we want to be like them.   Our influences can come from outside of our family-lines too: pastors, teachers, coaches, mentors...and online and on-screen too.  Even people we have never met  can shape what we think and who we are.  We can begin to idolize others with our attention to them and by the power we allow them to hold over us and our decisions. This sounds bad , but some people do so much  good  and even good for God... that we want to be like them.   Is this bad?   ---The Bible reminds us today that no matter who  is influencing us, and why---we should worship only God ...

Our family sends two sons to college this week...does anyone have any advice for them? The world will wink and say: " Have fun! ".   Our culture will chortle and cheer: " Party! " But I was blessed by the Lord's blunt advice when I opened the Bible today and it read (essentially): " Avoid women and drinking! ".   God's advice (given through King Lemuel  in the Book of Proverbs ) is direct and stark  and timely  for  King Lemuel's  sons ( O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows ), for  college students, and for each of us today, too. King Lemuel  wrote this advice to his sons...the sons of a king.  But you and I are (also) sons and daughters of a King, and this advice is not outdated, prude, or incorrect.   It is in perfect timing and perfect advice for each of us today. The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.  ( 2) O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, ( 3) do n...

For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,  and his bride has prepared herself. ( 8)  She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”   For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.   ~Revelation 19:7-8 ~~~ God is clear to us that our submission-to and our belief-in Him is first:  Sinful us  must commit our hearts to holy Him .   That is our first step to faith-in-God, and then....the journey begins in living  for the Lord. How? He will show us.   Through His Word, the Bible: we will read it and God will prompt us to move and do  in His Name. And--through His people God will show and invite us.  At church, or in a meeting, someone that loves the Lord will invite us to serve, to go on a mission trip...to meet for prayer... and we will accept ...and God will move. Faith is first.  But faith-in-action ( good deeds) are always close on faith's heels.   W...

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  ~Deuteronomy 31:8 ~~~ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. ( 22) The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.  ~Exodus 13:21-22 ~~~ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you... ”  ~Deuteronomy 31:8 Do we believe this? Do we live in confidence of this? Jonathan did. Jonathan was King Saul's son, and he felt moved to advance in an offensive military attack where he and his armour-beared (alone!) were far outnumbered.  It was Jonathan and his buddy ( alone ) against the Philistine army, but Jonathan knew that the Lord went before Him, and so Jonathan advanced in faith against the opposing army. One day Jonathan son of S...

What do we see?  Is it a hotel sign... or more ?  Look closer.                 In the middle of a block-letter advertisement, we find a mama dove nesting her eggs...if we just look closer.  The Lord hath created all things and He cares for the birds and gives them a home where we might least expect to look.  How much more does He care and plan for  our  care and provision? Look closer.   Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  ( 27)  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?...  ( 33)  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  ( 34)  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  ~Matthew 6:26-27, 3...